RN Inpatient - Emergency Department/Urgent Care
Posted Sep 23, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
About your past
Tell me about a time you cared for a patient in a true emergency, like a code or a trauma. What was your role?
What they are checking: Whether they can stay calm and useful in high-pressure moments, which define emergency nursing.
This is 12 hours a week, all nights. How do you stay up to date on protocols when you're not there often?
What they are checking: Whether they take responsibility for keeping skills current with limited time on the unit.
Tell me about a time you disagreed with a provider about a patient's care. What did you do?
What they are checking: Whether they speak up for patient safety in a clear, professional way.
How do you take care of yourself after a hard shift or a bad outcome?
What they are checking: Whether they have healthy ways to handle the stress of emergency work, which affects how long they last.
What would you do
This role covers both the emergency department and urgent care. How would you shift your approach between the two?
What they are checking: Whether they can match their pace and level of care to very different patient needs.
A patient waiting to be seen becomes aggressive and starts yelling at staff. What do you do?
What they are checking: Whether they can de-escalate and keep themselves and others safe, which is common on night shifts.
A family member wants to stay in the room during a procedure and is getting in the way. How do you handle it?
What they are checking: Whether they can protect the patient's care while treating the family with respect.
About the work
How do you triage when three patients arrive at once on a night shift?
What they are checking: Whether they use a structured triage method and can spot the sickest patient quickly.
A patient comes in with chest pain. Walk me through your first ten minutes.
What they are checking: Whether they know time-sensitive steps like an EKG, monitoring and alerting the provider right away.
How do you know when a patient who seems stable in the waiting room needs to be seen sooner?
What they are checking: Whether they reassess waiting patients instead of assuming the first triage decision still holds.
In a rural setting, a patient may need transfer to a bigger hospital. What do you do to get them ready?
What they are checking: Whether they understand transfer steps and the report that keeps a patient safe during transport.
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by Sanford Health.